GeoffV - you've nailed it. you can't expect to re-educate the masses, so you've got to look out for yourself. i rode sportbikes as well and my mindset was similar - assume you're invisible, and everyone else on the road are idiots.
though i've been snowboarding forever, i'm relatively new to 'real' carving, and i'm super cognizant of the disparity of styles (having been a 'zipperline' rider previously - neat term, boris, never heard that before). i'm a bit paranoid (esp on heelside turns) and have to keep reminding myself to check uphill periodically.
on the subject of technique differentiation, i was thinking about it last time i was up the hill. hardpack, but carvable conditions, and most people, apart from a couple more skilled skiers doing big racer-esque gs turns, were more or less doing the tail wagging speedcheck / sideslip straightline thing down the hill. some guys were going really fast, but dynamically, it looks so boring. in the past, it would take super steeps, or powder dumps to get me excited, now caving a groomed blue is super fun. perhaps it's just my enthusiasm for something new, but i get the feeling that people are missing out on the possibilities. it's like a new sport to me. i'd like to think there's possibility for a resurgence of alpine - perhaps in conjunction w/ an aging OG demographic. anyways, meandering ramble off...